I have no faith in this Indian bowling attack
The more I watch one-dayers, the more convinced I am that this is a game that revolves how well a side can force the opponents to be on the defensive
Erapalli Prasanna
23-Jan-2002
The more I watch one-dayers, the more convinced I am that this is a game
that revolves how well a side can force the opponents to be on the
defensive. 'Pressure' is the keyword, and it plays an important role no
matter what the reputation of a player is.
The obvious game plan is to put up a reasonable score on the board and
then try to restrict the other side. It was no different in the second
one-day international played at Cuttack, which, in my opinion, is best
described as a flop show by the Indians.
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Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood played excellent cricket. They
showed the Indian batsmen the importance of taking quick singles and
converting the ones into twos. It was the run out of Vaughan that gave
the Indians some respite.
The target of 251 runs was never expected to be a tall order for the
imposing Indian batting line up. All it needed was for one of the
batsmen to play a long innings and India were through. That, however,
did not happen, as the three run outs turned out to be crucial in
India's defeat.
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I have written in previous columns that there is nothing to choose
between the two teams. Now that the series is tied at 1-1, the remaining
matches are bound to be much closer affairs. I can only wish and hope
that the Indian batting comes good sooner than later as I have
absolutely no faith in the Indian bowling attack.
Nothing seems to be in sync when India is in the field. If the bowlers
have to make an impression, they have to get back to the basics.
Ganguly, for his part, must back his bowlers with better field
placements. The bowlers, meanwhile, will have to remind themselves that
it is important that they bowl on one side of the wicket (and to the
field set for them) if they are to reap any rewards at the highest
level.
Before ending, I must congratulate the England team for their fine allround display which helped them to pull off a remarkable win on Indian
soil.